Hi, are you talking about all expenses miscellaneous on schedule C ( as a category)? ot are you referring to those expenses specifically titled as miscellaneous" expenses that you can deduct certain of those expenses only to the extent that they exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income ?

then you'll be fine .. what I think you're ding here is deciding how much pre-work you have to do to pre-empt have more work to do... or another meeting

Customer:

Can you explain?

NPVAdvisor :

sure ...

NPVAdvisor :

If you KNOW in your heart and mind that everything's legitimate, then you could go in without doing any more than what you've done (knowing that you can always dig up more detail if they ask for it) ... and you really are getting to the art more than science part (every examiner has a different personality ... and good and bad days, for that matter) HOWEVER

Customer:

for misc, should misc be category on return or is it ok that cpa was grouping into "office"

NPVAdvisor :

Second level up, f you will, is where you have (in your mind and can quickly answer) connected the dots between whats in that $50 liene item and can state it quickly, intuitively .. The third level up, however,.....

NPVAdvisor :

is where you've listed everything on a line and the totals all reconcile to those (less that $50) items

Customer:

"

1:10 PM

is where you've listed everything on a line and the totals all reconcile to those (less that $50) items" means

NPVAdvisor :

They, as you will see when you read through what I've linked don't specify dollar amounts, again, because for a 5 million dollar business 50 is not only miscellaneous, but negligible, minimal

Customer:

to only include those I'm clueless about with $50 or less

NPVAdvisor :

for a company that grosses 100,000, 50 is a pretty big piece of the pie

Customer:

and for the $100+ or $1k ones to detail

Customer:

The business was grossing $500k to $2 mil

NPVAdvisor :

I think that's reasonable

NPVAdvisor :

The learningfrom this (not tryng to be funny, but truly believe this) is that you shyould use quicken or something that makes it easy to essentially list everything AT LEAST by its category

Customer:

and on tax return

Customer:

list a misc category or leave as office?

NPVAdvisor :

Just have the supporIng statement aNd be sure they reconcile... I think if you have office (and it's the bigger category) and then leaving only an even smaller $ for misc is better (again, balanced with the time it takes) ... aGAIN, IF YOU STICK WITH THE sCUEDULE c LINE ITEMS AND ONLY HAVE 1 OR 2 OTHER LINE ITEMS YOUR CATEGORIZING IT THE WAY THEY WANT

NPVAdvisor :

HANG ON A SEC LET ME CHECK SOMETHING....

Customer:

can you explain 'Just have the supporIng statement aNd be sure they reconcile...'?

NPVAdvisor :

If you have a business bank account/card make sure that you can show that the expenses (and the total of the outflows for that account) total up to the same numbers

NPVAdvisor :

Here's how the IRS puts it: "You need good records to prepare your tax returns. These records must support the income, expenses, and credits you report. Generally, these are the same records you use to monitor your business and prepare your financial statement."

NPVAdvisor :

Here's an excerpt from the link I provided:

NPVAdvisor :

Identify source of receipts

You will receive money or property from many sources. Your records can identify the source of your receipts. You need this information to separate business from nonbusiness receipts and taxable from nontaxable income.

Keep track of deductible expenses

You may forget expenses when you prepare your tax return, unless you record them when they occur.

Prepare your tax return

You need good records to prepare your tax returns. These records must support the income, expenses, and credits you report. Generally, these are the same records you use to monitor your business and prepare your financial statement.

Support items reported on tax returns

You must keep your business records available at all times for inspection by the IRS. If the IRS examines any of your tax returns, you may be asked to explain the items reported. A complete set of records will speed up the examination.

Customer:

Well based on that , everything even $50 and less I'm not sure on should be removed?

NPVAdvisor :

That's my point it's a;; relative I wouldn't NOT TAKE everything that's egit ... it's just how much youwant to consolidate .. and how much THIS examiner wants to have it broken out

NPVAdvisor :

Here's an example of what can be supporting documentation for consolidate items

NPVAdvisor :

Expenses are the costs you incur (other than purchases) to carry on your business. Your supporting documents should show the amount paid and that the amount was for a business expense. Documents for expenses include the following:

Canceled checks

Cash register tapes

Account statements

Credit card sales slips

Invoices

Petty cash slips for small cash payments

NPVAdvisor :

Aagain, they will refrain form giving you AMOUNTS .. what they will ask for is categories of items that make sense, relative to the reveue GROSS amount you're bringing in

You may choose any recordkeeping system suited to your business that clearly shows your income and expenses. Except in a few cases, the law does not require any special kind of records. However, the business you are in affects the type of records you need to keep for federal tax purposes. Your recordkeeping system should also include a summary of your business transactions. This summary is ordinarily made in your business books (for example, accounting journals and ledgers). Your books must show your gross income, as well as your deductions and credits. For most small businesses, the business checkbook is the main source for entries in the business books.

Some businesses choose to use electronic accounting software programs to capture and organize their records. In some situations, you will still need to keep original documentation for certain items. The software program you choose should meet the same basic recordkeeping principals mentioned above.

Supporting Business Documents

Purchases, sales, payroll, and other transactions you have in your business will generate supporting documents such as invoices and receipts. Supporting documents include sales slips, paid bills, invoices, receipts, deposit slips, and canceled checks. These documents contain the information you need to record in your books. It is important to keep these documents because they support the entries in your books and on your tax return. You should keep them in an orderly fashion and in a safe place. For instance, organize them by year and type of income or expense. For more detailed information refer to Publication 583, Starting a Business and Keeping Records.

The following are some of the types of records you should keep:

Gross receipts are the income you receive from your business. You should keep supporting documents that show the amounts and sources of your gross receipts. Documents for gross receipts include the following:

Cash register tapes

Bank deposit slips

Receipt books

Invoices

Credit card charge slips

Forms 1099-MISC

Purchases are the items you buy and resell to customers. If you are a manufacturer or producer, this includes the cost of all raw materials or parts purchased for manufacture into finished products. Your supporting documents should show the amount paid and that the amount was for purchases. Documents for purchases include the following:

Canceled checks

Cash register tape receipts

Credit card sales slips

Invoices

NPVAdvisor :

When they say supporting, that goes back to that idea that you can consolidate (roll-up) items into "office," for example, but you'll need documentation to support that those lines break down to the details above

Customer:

All that I have is Quickbooks

Customer:

showing the reimbursement amount that prior bookkeeper put as Misc

Customer:

business expenses

NPVAdvisor :

Ahhh

NPVAdvisor :

Then I think you do the best you can .... maybe one phone call to the bookkeeper asking what the logic, criteria was for miscellaneous

Customer:

from the old credit card statement

Customer:

but old bookkeeper is not around now

NPVAdvisor :

Might be worth asking/paying tht erson to come in for an afternoon and generate some detail

Customer:

Just not reachable is the issue

NPVAdvisor :

Honestly, if you have real world reason for not being able to get that from an old bookkeeper, AND the totals on the statements total to the expenses reported, the examiner may very well say "that's reasonable."

Why should I keep records?Good records will help you monitor the progress of your business, prepare your financial statements, identify source of receipts, keep track of deductible expenses, prepare your tax returns, and support items reported on tax returns.

What kinds of records should I keep?You may choose any recordkeeping system suited to your business that clearly shows your income and expenses. Except in a few cases, the law does not require any special kind of records. However, the business you are in affects the type of records you need to keep for federal tax purposes.

How long should I keep records?The length of time you should keep a document depends on the action, expense, or event the document records. You must keep your records as long as they may be needed to prove the income or deductions on a tax return.

How should I record my business transactions?Purchases, sales, payroll, and other transactions you have in your business generate supporting documents. These documents contain information you need to record in your books.

What is the burden of proof?The responsibility to prove entries, deductions, and statements made on your tax returns is known as the burden of proof. You must be able to prove (substantiate) certain elements of expenses to deduct them.

Excellent information, very quick reply. The experts really take the time to address your questions, it is well worth the fee, for the peace of mind they can provide you with. OrvilleHesperia, California

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